ORD-EZE - high AA prices December 2009
Jul 5, 2009, 10:04 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: ORD, EZE
Programs: AA Platinum, Hilton HHonors Diamond, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, AMEX Platinum
Posts: 71
ORD-EZE - high AA prices December 2009
I need to fly from ORD (Chicago) to EZE (Buenos Aires) aprox Dec 18 - first week of January. The prices range from $1250-$3000+ in economy class. Is $1250 the cheapest I can get? Seems a little high to me...
Thanks for your help!
Thanks for your help!
Jul 5, 2009, 10:13 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: STL
Programs: AA 2MM, AS MVP Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,966
Prices are always higher over the Christmas school break. Can you get cheaper? Maybe, if you wait. Could it also go up? Sure.
Jul 5, 2009, 10:18 pm
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 9,916
If you use kayak.com you can also look up fare history. It can also show how you can save money by being flexible. Looking quickly it looks like several days ago AA was offering fares under $1,000 for the approximate days you are looking to travel.
I also wouldn't be surprised if you can get better deals by going through a consolidator particularly if you don't mind connecting on MX via MEX.
Also, welcome to FT
I also wouldn't be surprised if you can get better deals by going through a consolidator particularly if you don't mind connecting on MX via MEX.
Also, welcome to FT
Jul 6, 2009, 1:19 am
#4
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: USA, Europe
Programs: AAdvantage, Flying Blue, Mileage Plus
Posts: 839
That price wouldn't surprise me. Dec-Jan is peak travel season to Argentina. I went last year at this time and EVERYTHING was full. It seemed like all 5 daily flights (2 from JFK, 2 from MIA, 1 from DFW) was packed and finding a place to stay was a pain in the @$$ also. Anyway, that's a fairly long flight, plus it involves a connection. If $1,100 is a typical price for travel to Europe in the summer, then $1,100 for travel to Argentina in the winter makes sense to me.
Jul 6, 2009, 2:17 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: los angeles, calif.
Programs: Alaska Airlines Gold MVP
Posts: 7,170
You should not expect to pay less $1,000-$1,100 during that time of the year. And even with the current economic situation, U.S.-Argentina traffic remains extremely robust.
Jul 6, 2009, 4:54 am
#6
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL, AA 1MM LT GLD, SPG PLAT, National Exec Selc, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Silver
Posts: 8,278
There is a reason why EZE is one of AA's most profitable destinations.
Jul 6, 2009, 6:23 am
#7
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Austin
Posts: 4,629
$1250 is not at all high for that route at that time. Feel lucky its not $1600.
Jul 6, 2009, 8:14 am
#8
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: NYC-BNA
Programs: Lifetime Plat/4mm miles, Starwood, HiltonHonors
Posts: 657
Even during non-holiday times, EZE fares from upper-tier departures cities hover in the $1,000 to $1,250 range for discounted coach; departing from MIA and DFW can cut it by a $100 or so. But compared to, say, the Euro or pound, the A-peso -- currently at 3.8/$1 -- is a bargain that more than compensates for fares higher than what you typically pay for Europe. You'll make it up in hotels and meals.
Jul 6, 2009, 10:39 am
#9
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: USA, Europe
Programs: AAdvantage, Flying Blue, Mileage Plus
Posts: 839
This is true. Argentina seems to be one of the few first world countries left out there that you can still get a really good value for the dollar.
Jul 7, 2009, 11:51 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: ORD, EZE
Programs: AA Platinum, Hilton HHonors Diamond, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, AMEX Platinum
Posts: 71
Thanks for all your help!
The reason I have to go to Argentina in that time is bc I want to spend some time for Christmas and New Year with my family. I cant spend much because I am a student and Im short of $$ right now. I also have to fly in AA because i have a $800 voucher that I got last year for a voluntary bump from JFK to EZE on December 20.
If I cant get a ticket to EZE for around $1000, I will end up using the voucher to go somewhere cheaper... Also I can only stay for around 10-12 days, so I dont think its worth the 1500$.
BTW, elitetraveler: thats for that website... its pretty helpful...
The reason I have to go to Argentina in that time is bc I want to spend some time for Christmas and New Year with my family. I cant spend much because I am a student and Im short of $$ right now. I also have to fly in AA because i have a $800 voucher that I got last year for a voluntary bump from JFK to EZE on December 20.
If I cant get a ticket to EZE for around $1000, I will end up using the voucher to go somewhere cheaper... Also I can only stay for around 10-12 days, so I dont think its worth the 1500$.
BTW, elitetraveler: thats for that website... its pretty helpful...
Jul 7, 2009, 5:54 pm
#11
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: country Western Australia
Programs: QF SG(LTS) - AA LTG(1MM)
Posts: 2,771
How much do you like to gamble?
Have you considered ORD-MEX-EZE?
MX is supposed to be a OW member by Dec 09.......
Although there has been one delay announced in that process already.
In the worst case, you get redeemable miles.
Happy wandering
Fred
Have you considered ORD-MEX-EZE?
MX is supposed to be a OW member by Dec 09.......
Although there has been one delay announced in that process already.
In the worst case, you get redeemable miles.
Happy wandering
Fred
Jul 7, 2009, 8:30 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Redding, CT
Posts: 604
Oh how I long for the days....
Seems not too long ago--- North American summer of 2002. I was living in Buenos Aires and they were in the worst economic crisis the country had seen for a while. Anyway traffic must have been down for people originating in EZE. I did EZE JFK and EZE MIA for $399 round trip several times that summer/winter. What a quick and easy way to make EXP -10 round trips and you were done.
Jul 7, 2009, 8:58 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat
Posts: 7,029
Seems not too long ago--- North American summer of 2002. I was living in Buenos Aires and they were in the worst economic crisis the country had seen for a while. Anyway traffic must have been down for people originating in EZE. I did EZE JFK and EZE MIA for $399 round trip several times that summer/winter. What a quick and easy way to make EXP -10 round trips and you were done.
Regards
Jul 16, 2009, 12:23 am
#14
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: PDX & MVD
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 318
Come in March or November instead.
The high tourism season for Argentina is Dec 15th - Feb 1st. With Feb and Easter week as the edge season. If you want a cheap ticket, fly the end of November or Christmas / New Years day.
As it is, $1250 is not a bad fare. AA runs a bunch of daily flights... but they canceled the direct ORD-EZE because it was underperforming. I flew it a few times and while the flight was full, you'd see people doing EZE-ORD-JFK even though there is direct, because there was more space / cheaper to route via ORD.
Right now for example, it's cheaper. But that's because i can look out my window and see a cold rain falling.
The high season is doubly bad because it's a very concentrated tourism season, just like August in Europe. You have argentines going north for vacation, foreigners coming to argentina for vacation, and argentines abroad returning to spend vacation with family / visit.
If you can, come in March or November. The weather's wonderful, not ungodly hot, and it's much cheaper. Hotels, rental cars, restaurants, all have tourist season pricing fluctuations too.
As it is, $1250 is not a bad fare. AA runs a bunch of daily flights... but they canceled the direct ORD-EZE because it was underperforming. I flew it a few times and while the flight was full, you'd see people doing EZE-ORD-JFK even though there is direct, because there was more space / cheaper to route via ORD.
Right now for example, it's cheaper. But that's because i can look out my window and see a cold rain falling.
The high season is doubly bad because it's a very concentrated tourism season, just like August in Europe. You have argentines going north for vacation, foreigners coming to argentina for vacation, and argentines abroad returning to spend vacation with family / visit.
If you can, come in March or November. The weather's wonderful, not ungodly hot, and it's much cheaper. Hotels, rental cars, restaurants, all have tourist season pricing fluctuations too.
Jul 16, 2009, 8:04 am
#15
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: London UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,042
